Method of preserving fruits.



Patented Doc. 23, I902.

No. 7|s,5sa.

. J. m. A. LACQMME.

METHOD OF PB'ESEBVING FRUITS.

(Application filed Kat. 12, 1902.)

6 Sheets-sheet I.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

m: NoRms FEIFHS c0. woraumo. wAsmncrou. I; c.

No. 7|6,558. Patented Dec. 23, I902.

J. M. A. LACDMME.

METHOD OF PBESEBVING FRUITS.

(Application filed Mn. 12, 1902.) (No Model.)

B Shaets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES 4 f7' 51 CM ZZZM wad/ T JUCVWV mm m: warms warms m.PNOTLlUTHO. WASHINGTON, n c

Patented'Dac. 23, I902.

J. M. A. LACUMME. METHOD OF PRESERVING FRUITS.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1902.)

6 Sheets-sheaf 3.

(No Model.)

IN VE N 70/? WITNESSES TNE News PETER: co, Mum-mum WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 7l6,558. Patented Dec. 23, |902.;

J. m. A. LACOMME.

METHOD OF P BESEBVING FRUITS.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1902. (llo Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

No. 7|s,55a. Patentod Dec. 23, I902.

J. m. A. LACUMME. METHOD OF PRESEBYING FRUITS.

(Application flied 1m. 12. 1902.)

6 Sheots-$heoi 5.

(No Model.)

. IN VENTOH JAMWM' WITNESSES: 4 Z I Mm rm, Nrwm"; "cur, w umxmuo"WASHINGTON, n

m. mssa. Patented Dec. 23; 1902.

J. M. A. LACUMME. METHOD OF PRESERVING FRUITS.

(Applicltion filed KM. 12, 1902.) (No llod gl.) 6 Shanta-Shoot 6.

i 5 a I 4 a a s I UhlllfFD merits Artur OFFICE JEAN MARIE AUGUSTELAOOMME, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-THIRDS TO WVALTERLAUDER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AND JAMES L. HAOKETT, OF LOUISVILLE,KENTUCKY.

METHOD OF PRESERVING FRUITS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters'Patent No. 716,558, dated December23, 1 02.

Application filed March 12, 1902. Serial No- 97 92'7. (N Sp cimens.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN MARIE AUGUSTE LACOMME, a citizen of theRepublic of France, and a resident ofNew York,borough of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and State of New York, have made and inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Methods of PreservingFruits andother Substances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved method or process of sterilizing,purifying, and preserving or arresting the decay of vegetable and animalfoods, such as fruits, cereals, vegetables, meat, fish, &c.; and itconsists in certain steps hereinafter described, and pointed out in theclaims.

In order to carry out the process, I have devised means which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 representsa box or closed compartment in perspective having attached thereto theseveral devices for carrying out the various steps of the process. Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view showing the interior of the box. Fig. 3is a horizontal sectional view of the same taken on the line 3 3 of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4. at of Fig.2, one of the shelves or supports being partially withdrawn from thebox. Fig. 5 is a view of the rear side of the box, showing thearrangement of the electric wires or conductors. Fig. 6 is a sectionalview of one of the detached drawers or shelves. Fig. 7 is a rear endview of one of the shelves, showing the arrangement of the push-buttonsor electric contacts attached thereto. Fig. 8 is a detail view of thecontacting device attached to the rear end of the shelf and the back ofthe boX. Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of the air-pump and itsoperating devices. Fig. 10 is a view of the pump, partly in section andpartly in elevation and on an enlarged scale. Fig. 11 is a top plan viewof the same. Fig. 12 is a view in side elevation of a cylindrical wirescreen to be substituted in the place of the shelves in the treatment ofgrain. Fig. 13 is an end view of the same, and Fig. 14. is a detail Viewshowing the arrangement of the rolling electric contact thereon. Fig. 15is a sectional view of the boiler or steam-generator. Fig. 16 is asection al view of the fumigating apparatus. Fig. 17 is a view, partlyin section and partly in elevation, of a device for purifying the air tobe subsequently utilized in the treatment of the fruits or othersubstances; and Fig. 18 is a sectional view of the receptacle containingthe refrigerating liquids or gases. Fig. 19 is a detail view showing oneset of valves in the air-pump.

In carrying out my improved method I employ an air-tight box orcompartment 15, preferably made with outwardly-swinging doors 16 17, thelatter being provided with the glass windows 18, in which air-tight boxor compartment is placed the substances to be treated. Within the box 15and to the ends 19 20 are secured the horizontal rails or tracks 21, andto the vertical supports 22, located midway between the ends 19 20 andin the front and rear of the box, are secured the ends of the horizontaltracks or rails 23, on which tracks or rails are supported the shelves24 in vertical rows or tiers, and which, in order to facilitate theirentrance into and removal from the box or compartment, are provided withthe wheels or rollers 25. Each of these shelves is preferablyconstructed with a forward end piece 26, rear end 27, and with the sidepieces 28, the front and rear sides 26 and 27 being formed ofnon-conducting materialsuch as wood, hard rubber, &c.and connected by aseries of metal bars or rods 29, placed at such distances apart as willhold or support the material or substance under treatment withoutallowing it to drop or fall through or between them and insulated fromeach other. To the rear side or end piece 27 of each of these shelves ordrawers are secured the pins or push-buttons 31, each being electricallyconnected to the alternate bars 29--as, for instance, in Fig. 7 the pinor contact-piece 30 has leading therefrom the wire or conductor 32, fromwhich the branches 33 lead to and are connected with the alternatingrods 29, and the pin or contact-piece 31 has leading therefrom the wireor conductor 34, from which the branches 35 lead to the remainder ofsaid rods-the effect of this arrangement being that when the negativeand positive r N ,7 I

poles of a battery, dynamo, 820., are brought into contact with thebuttons 31 the circuit will be completed through the material orsubstances resting upon and supported by the rods or bars 29. As shownin Fig. 8, each of the contact-pins 30 passes through the rear end piece27 of the shelf or drawer and also through a box or receptacle'36,secured to said end piece, and which box or receptacle contains a spring37, one end of which bears against the non-conducting material 27, ofwhich said end piece is made, and the other end against the disk 38,secured to said pin 30, the tendency of the spring being to afford ayielding contact and to keep or retain the pin in its outer adjustment.

As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the rear side 39 of the box isprovided with a series of binding-posts passing through the same andwith the inner ends of which the pins or buttons 30 31, secured to theshelves, come in contact. From any suitable source of electricity-as,for instance, a battery, dynamo, or other street-mains-lead the positiveand negative wires or conductors 40 41, the former by means of branches42 connecting the vertical series of binding-posts 43 and the latter bymeans of the branches 44 connecting the series of binding-posts 45, saidposts 43 being arranged or located to make electrical contact with thepush pins or buttons 31 and the binding-posts 45 to make electricalcontact with the push pins or buttons 30 when the shelves are in theirproper positions Within the box or compartment 15, as illustrated inFig. 4. It will be understood from the foregoing that when these shelvesor drawers 24 are pulled outwardly electrical contact with the posts 43and 45 is broken and that when rolled backwardly into their properpositions the push-buttons 3O 31 come into contact with the inner endsof the bindingposts 43. 45, the circuit being completed through thematerial or substance resting upon the alternating bars or rods 29.

Within a short distance of the box or compartment 15 is mounted anair-pump on the bracket or support 46, the latter being provided withsuitable bearings through which passes the shaft 47, Fig. 9, on one endof which shaft is the air-pump 48 and on the opposite end the gear-wheel49. This pump 48 is made in the form of an annular tube or hollow ringand provided at the top with the air-tight partition 50, dividing thering or tube into two sections, each of which is partially filled withthe liquid 51, hereinafter referred to. On either side of the partitionare two valve-openings 52 53, connected by means of the hollow yoke 54,the latter being provided with the short tube or pipe 55, the outer endof the latter being open. Within the tube or hollow ring 48 are locatedthe valves 56, adapted to close the opening 52, and the valve 57,adapted to close the opening 53. In the annular tube 48 are formed twoother openings, one on either side of the partition and connected by thehollow yoke 58, which openings are also adapted to be closed by valvessimilar to those numbered 56 57, but working in the opposite direction,as illustrated in Fig.- 19. From the hollow yoke 58 leads the pipe 59,provided with a valve 130, the lower end of which pipe is connected withthe pipe 60, Fig. 3, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) passing throughthe side 19 of the box or compartment 15 and extending along the floorthe length of said box, that portion of said pipe 60 within the boxbeing provided with perforations, the free end of the pipe being closedin order that the air forced in and through the pipe by the pump 48 maybe distributed through the box through said perforations. Meshing withthe gear-wheel 49 is the sector 61, Fig. 9, formed on the upper end ofthe rod 62, the lower end of which rod is pivoted to the bracket 46. Onthis bracketare also mounted the gears 63 64, meshing with each other,and the former connected to the rod 62 by means of the rod 65. The gear64 being turned or rotated by hand or power, its motion will betransmitted through the gear 63 and rod 65 to the sector 61, causing thelatter to oscillate, a similar oscillating movement being imparted tothe pump 48 through the gear 49 meshing with said sector. During thisoscillation the liquid 51 in the annular tube or ring 48 acts asapiston, each half of the ring alternately drawing in the air throughthe pipe 55 and expelling the same through the pipe 59 and out of theperforations in the latter into the box or compartment 15.

From the top of the box or compartment 15 leads a pipe 66, to which isconnected the pipe 67, provided with the valves 68 69 on either side ofits connection with the pipe 66, one

end, 70, of said pipe 67 being open and the I opposite end leading tothe box or receptacle 71, Fig. l, which is preferably made of glass andcontains the filtering-cotton 79, and from which box or receptacle leadsthe pipe 72 to the lower end of the reservoir 73, which latter ispartially filled with liquid 74, as illustrated in Fig. 17. From theupper end of the receptacle or reservoir 73 leads an exhaustpipe 75,provided with the valve 76, and also a pipe 77, leading into the upperend of the chamber or box 15, which pipe 77 is provided with a valve 78.1

To the end 20 of the box or compartment 15 is secured a smallrectangular box 80, opening into the compartment and containing asparking coil 81 of any desired pattern or construction, the purpose ofwhich is to partially decompose the air and produce or generate ozone tospread through the interior of said compartment, said box or receptacle80 being hermetically sealed around the outer sides. To the sparkingcoil lead the wires or conductors 82 83, branching from the wires orconductors 84 85, leading from a suitable battery, dynamo,or othersource of electricity. It will be understood, of course, that instead oflocating the sparking coil itself within the box or receptacle it may belocated at any other convenient place and the electrodes connectedtherewith by wires or conductors placed or located within the receptacle80. Below this receptacle 80 and to the end 20 of the box 15 is securedthe receptacle 86, which contains an X-ray apparatus 87, consisting ofthe usual induction-coil and Crookes tube, this box or compartment 86opening into the compartment 15 and hermetically sealed to prevent theescape of air and gases from the interior of said compartment 15. Theboxes or receptacles 80 86, with their contained sparking coil and X-rayapparatus, are duplicated on the opposite end 19 of the compartment, asillustrated at 88 and 89, and branch wires or conductors 9O 91 leadingfrom the main wires 84 to the sparking coil contained within thereceptacle 88 and branch wires 92 93, leading from said main wires tothe X-ray apparatus contained within the box or receptacle 89.

Connected with the box or compartment 15 is a boiler or steam-generator94, from which leads a steam-supply pipe 95 into the lower end of saidbox or compartment, that portion of the pipe 96 contained within the boxand extending practically the length thereof being perforated, in orderto allow of the escape of the steam therefrom into and throughout thecompartment. This boiler or steam-generator 94 may be constructed in anydesired way, that shown in the drawings, Fig. 15, consisting of an outercasing 97, supported on the base 98, in which latter is contained a gasor other burner 99, the casing containing the tubes 100 surrounded bythe water 101. To the top of the casing is secured the dome 10:3,provided with the pipe 103, through which the boiler maybe filled, andwith a safety-valve 104, the pipe 95 leading from said dome beingprovided with the valve 105.

Connected with the box or compartment is a fumigating device 106, whichmay be constructed in any desired manner, but preferably like thatillustrated in Fig. 16 of the drawings,wherein 107 represents an outercasing supported on the base 108, in which latter is contained theburner 109. The outer casing 107 is partially filled with water 110,admitted through the pipe 111 leading from the dome 112, secured to thetop of the casing. \Vithiu the outer casing is contained an innerreceptacle 113, resting upon the bottom of the outer casing, and fromwhich leads a pipe 114, the latter passing through the top of the dome112 and provided with a valve 115. This pipe 114 passes into the box orcompartment 15, that portion of the pipe 116 contained within said boxbeing perforated, as illustrated in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines, Fig. 1.

\Vithin the inner casing or receptacle 113 is contained a fumigatingmaterial 117, consisting of gums, rosins, or other harmless antisepticsubstances-such, for instance, as

arabic, tragacanth, myrrh,and other aromatic gums-such being let intothe inner recepta- 010 or chamber 113 through the pipe 118, the purposeand effect being that when the burner 109 is lighted the bottoms orlower plates of the inner and outer receptacles will be heated and fumesfrom the antiseptic gums or rosins caused to pass through the pipe 114and out through the perforated pipe 116, contained within the box orcompartment 15 when the valve 115 in the pipe 114 is opened and thewater contained within the outer receptacle heated and boiled forassisting the burner in heating the fumigating substances containedwithin the inner receptacle.

\Vith the box or compartment 15 is also connected the box or receptacle119, containing ice 120, or as a substitute therefor any cooling liquidorgas,as liquid air or petroleumether, introduced through the pipe 121.From the lower end of the receptacle 119 leads the pipe 122, containinga valve 123, said pipe 122 passing into the lower end of the box 15 andcrossing and recrossing the lower part or portion thereof, asillustrated in Fig. 3, until finally it passes out of the opposite endthereof and ending in the faucet or tap 124, from which the water orcooling liquid may be drawn and again supplied, if desired, to thereceptacle 119 through the pipe 121.

To the top of the box or compartment 15is connected a pipe 125, providedwith a valve 126, to the end of which pipe may be secured when desiredan air-compressor of any desired type or pattern, (not shown,) suchbeing used in case it be necessary to subject the contents of the box toair or gas under pressure, a gage 127, Fig. 1, being provided toindicate such pressure within the box and also a safety-valve 128 toallow of the exhaust or escape of said air or gases should the pressurebecome too great. If desired, a thermometer 129 may also be connectedwith the box to show the temperature of the air or gases containedwithin the same.

After placing the substances to be treated on the shelves 24 the latterare run into the box or compartment 15, the doors 16 17-being thentightly closed, it being understood that at the commencement of theoperation all of the valves are closed. When the shelves are properlylocated within the box 15, the pushbuttons 30 31 will make electricalcontact with the binding-posts 43 45, and thereby complete the circuitof electricity through the material or substances resting upon thealternating bars or rods 29 of said shelves, as heretofore described, acurrent of sufficient intensity being employed,whereby all animallife-such as grubs, worms, parasites, &c.-- contained in or on thesubstances under treatment is killed, the electric current beingallowed, if necessary, to flow through the bars of the shelves and thesubstances supported thereon during the entire time of the followingoperation: The valve 69 in the pipe 68 being opened, as Well as thevalve 130 in the pipe 59, the air-pump 48 is put into operation byoscillating the same, wherebya volume of air (the amount depending onthe velocity of the oscillations) is directed and forced through thepipe 59 and out through the perforated pipe 60 into the chamber orcompartment 15, from which it escapes through the pipe 66 and out of theopen end of the pipe 67', the current or draft of air thus flowinginto,through, and out of the chamber or compartment, carrying with it thedust and other impurities contained within said chamber and held insuspension in the atmosphere. This operation being completed I thenclose the valve 69 and open the valve 68, thereby causing the air topass through the pipe-67 into the receptacle 71,containing thefiltering-cotton 79,and down through the pipe 72 into the liquid 74contained within the receptable 73, from which it escapes through thepipe 77 or exhaust 75, the valves 76 and 78 being so regulated as todetermine the amount of air which shall flow back from the receptacle 73into the box or chamber 15 and the amount which will escape into theatmosphere through the exhaust-pipe 75.

The liquid 74 contained in the reservoir 73 is preferably water; but byreason of the fact that the air from the box or compartment 15 is fromtime to time forced through the same, as above described, itisoxygenized, ozonized, and rendered antiseptic by reason of the treatmentof the air within said box, as Will be hereinafter described, portionsof this liquid 74 being employed from time to time in supplying theair-pump 48 as the liquid in the latter evaporates and may also beutilized for washing and cleansing various kinds of substances to bepurified or treated, the amount of liquid taken from said reservoirbeing replaced by fresh water, which also soon becomes ozonized andoxygenized by the air and gases forced into and through the same fromthe box or compartment 15. After this operation, which should be carriedon for a short time, all of the several valves should be closed, theair-pump stopped, and the sparking coil 81 and X-ray apparatus 87 setinto operation on either side of the box or compartment, whereby the aircontained within said box will undergo various changes and modificationsby reason of the generation of ozone, which, as is well known, is highlyeffective in completely destroying the par asites, microbes, germs, andorganic life of all kinds which may be present in or upon fruit or othersubstances under treatment and which organic life causes the decay anddestruction of said fruits or substances. By these means also the X-raysassist in the destruction of the animal life, as the same penetrate tothe interior of the substances, the ultra violet rays thereof beinghighly effective in the destruction of all organic matter, either insuspension in the atmosphere or lodged within the animalor vegetablematter .slowly issue from the tap 124.

under treatment, and which organisms, as before stated, are responsiblefor the decay and putrefaction of the alimentary substances.

After the air inclosed within the compartment 15 is sufiicientlytransformed or modified, as above described, the valve 105 in the pipe95, leading from the boiler or steam-generator 94, is opened for a fewseconds in order to supply heat and the necessary amount of moisture ordampness, such moisture being subsequently condensed and deposited uponthe outer sides or surfaces of the substances under treatment. Thisvalve 105 be ing subsequently closed the valve 115 in the pipe114,1eading from thefumigator,is opened, thereby allowing the fumes topass into the box or compartment 15 for the purpose of imparting to thefruits or substances under treatment an invisible, antiseptic, andpreserving coating or covering and which antiseptic Will be absorbedthrough the pores of the fruit or other substances, whereby the latterwill be preserved from future attack by all animal life and from decayand putrefaction.

To induce the deposit or precipitation of the antiseptic and preservingcoating or covering upon the substances under treatment, the valve 115is'closed and that numbered 123 in the pipe 122, leading from the box orreceptacle 119, opened, whereby the cooling or refrigerating liquidcontained therein is allowed to pass through said pipe 122, containedwithin the box or compartment 15, thereby materially reducing thetemperature of the air or gases contained Within said compartment andcausing the deposit or precipitation of the fumes from the fumigatingapparatus, said cooling liquid being allowed to If this liquid besufficiently cold, it may be returned to the receptacle 119, wherein itis further cooled and again allowed to pass through therefrigerating-pipe 122. The valve 123 is then closed and the electriccurrent shut ofi, whereupon the fruits or other substances may beremoved from the compartment.

For the treatment of grain and other small particles of matter in orderthat each particle shall be subjected to the action of the air and gasescontained within the box or compartment 15 it is necessary to move ordisturb them during the process; otherwise those portions of thesurfaces in contact with each other will not receive the preservingantiseptic coating. To carry out this part of the process, I haveconstructed a revolving cylindrical screen, (shown in Figs. 12, 13, and14, which when desired to be used is substituted for the shelves ordrawers already referred to. This cylindrical screen is constructed withthe transverse supports 132, such supports being constructed ofnon-conducting ma terialsuch as wood or hard rubber, or, if desired,ofmetalcovered or coated on the outer srufaces with insulatingmaterial-the ends of said bars or supports 131 being secured or fastened in rings of non-conducting material, such as wood or hard rubber133, the inner ends of the supports 132 being secured in the hub 134,also made of non-conducting material. Through these hubs 134 passes theshaft 135, mounted in the ends 19 and 20 of the box or compartment 15,one end of said shaft being provided with a gear 136, meshing with thegear 137, secured to one end of a shaft or spindle 138, mounted in thebracket 139, secured to the end 20 of said box, the op posite end ofsaid spindle or shaft 138 being provided with the pulley or belt-wheel140, by means of which the rotating movement is imparted to saidcylinder or screen. To the rods or supports 131 are secured the edges ofthe sectional screens 141, preferably made of wire gauze or netting, theadjacent sec tions of said screen ornetting being insulated from eachother, as illustrated in Fig. 14. Be-

tween the rods or supports 132 are secured the sections of screen ornetting 142, also insulated from each other. On the two end rings 133are secured the metal bands or rings 143 144, from which pass pins 145through the insulating-rings 133 to the screen-sections 141, the pinspassing through the rings 143 making electrical contact with thealternating sections, and those passing through the ring 144 makingelectrical contact with the intermediate sections, the purpose andeffect of this arrangement being to permit the alternating sections toreceive the positive current of electricity and the intermediatesections the negative current. ()n the outer side or surface of therings 143 144 are the rolling contacts 146 147, the former beingconnected to the positive pole and the latter to the negative pole (orvice versa) of adynamo, battery, or other suitable source ofelectricity.

In the upper side or top of the box 15 is formed an opening or doorprotected by the cover 148, through which the grain or small substancesmay be fed through the door 149, made in one of the sections of thecylindrical screen.

From the foregoing it will be understood that as the cylindrical screenis rotated the current of electricity will flow through the rollingcontacts 146 147, rings 143 144, through the sections 131, the circuitbeing completed through the grain or other substances resting upon theadjacent sections of said screen, said screen at the same time so movingor disturbing the grain or particles of the substance under treatmentduring its rotation that each and every of said particles will beexposed to the air and gases contained within the box or compartment,whereby all organic life will be destroyed in and upon said grain andthe surfaces thereof protected by the antiseptic fumes, as in the caseof the substances heretofore referred to.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The method hereinbefore described of preserving fruits and othersubstances which consists in subjecting the same while in a closedcompartment, to the action of air previously passed through ozonized,oxygenized and antiseptic liquid, simultaneously with the action of anelectric current, secondly, charging the contained air with ozone andoxygen by means of an electric sparking coil, simultaneously withX-rays, thirdly, subjecting the substance to the action of steam andfinally depositing a preserving antiseptic coating on the surfaces ofsaid substance.

2. The method hereinbefore described which consists in subjecting fruitor other substances while in,a closed compartment to the action of anelectric current, simultaneously charging the air in said compartmentwith X- rays and with gases produced by an electric sparking coil, thencharging said compartment with steam, then with antiseptic fumes andfinally cooling said charged air.

3. The method hereinbefore described of preserving fruits or othersubstances while in a closed compartment, which consists in forcingthrough said compartment a current of air previously passed throughozonized, oxygenized and antiseptic liquid, simultaneously charging theair contained within said compartment with X-rays and with gases produced by an electric sparking coil,then charging said compartment withsteam, and subsequently with antiseptic fumes for forming apreserving-coating on said substance, and finally cooling said aircontained Within said compartment for inducing the precipitation andabsorption of the preserving-fumes,the above operations being performedduring the transmission of an electric current through said substances.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,this 11th day of March, A. D. 1902.

JEAN MARIE AUGUSTE LACOMllIE.

WVitnesses:

GEORGE 000K, M. VAN NORTWIOK.

